WILKES-BARRE, PA (August 30, 2019) --- The King's College men's soccer team enter the 2019 season with high expectations after falling in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Championship match a year ago. The Monarchs begin the season on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in McCarthy Stadium hosting University of Scranton.

King's returns 23 student-athletes from the squad that went 11-6-2 overall and 5-2-0 in conference play last year. They added 11 newcomers to the roster including 10 freshmen. The Monarchs are looking to win their first conference title since 2014 with a talented group that is very experienced.

Eight of the top 10 point-scorers in 2018 are back this season including most of a defense that was the best in the Mid-Atlantic region with a .579 shutout percentage and third in team goals against average at 0.66. The Monarch defense recorded 11 shutouts and held their opponents to just 7.4 shots and 3.7 shots on goal per game.

As experienced as the Monarchs are with the returners, they have brought in a group of talented freshmen who will compete for time right away.

FORWARDS
This group is senior-laden with a trio who combined for 11 goals and five assists last year. Aidan DeCamillo led the team with 14 points on six goals and two assists. The senior scored one of the biggest goals of the season when he knocked in the overtime game-winner to give KC a 1-0 victory over Manhattanville in the MAC Freedom Semifinal. Fabio Massa returns his seven points on three goals and one assist. Massa is a threat in the air and uses his height well to get a head on corners and crosses. He is also dangerous with his feet and can create his own shot. Alastair Dinnan recorded six points on two goals and two assists a year ago. The senior has been very dangerous on set pieces in his career. The group will also receive senior leadership from Ayrton Omoigui who is in his third year on the team. Omoigui scored his first career goal against Centenary last year and was an asset off the bench as he saw increased action.

Sophomore Alex Showalter is the final returner of the group after playing 16 of 19 matches as a freshman with one start. The Mountain View graduate scored one of the more important regular season goals as his first career point when his strike right before halftime gave the Monarchs a two-goal cushion in a 4-2 victory at Manhattanville that winded up giving KC the second seed and home match in the conference tournament. The Monarchs have two freshmen from New York in Justin Decoteau and Avery Mastrandrea who will look to add more depth to the rotation. DeCoteau is from Brooklyn and was a three-time All-Connecticut Prep school star for Marvelwood Prep. He scored the most career goals in school history with 109. Mastrandrea is from Dix Hills where he was a member of a Saint Anthony's program that were New York State finalist twice in his four years.

MIDFIELDERS
The midfield is the youngest position group with just three upperclassmen. However, the expectations for the group are the same as the others. Senior Will Brack anchors the group as the lone senior. Brack had five points on two goals and one assist last year. He is flanked by juniors Sam Pipicelli and Nik Verma. Pipicelli also recorded five points a year ago on two goals and an assist. Verma has seen action in 18 matches during his first two years. Sophomores Kevin Kolaski, Kyle Shalvey, and Aidan Oyler are looking to build off great rookie seasons. Kolaski is looking for an increased role this year after appearing in five matches as a freshman. Shalvey saw action in 12 matches last year while Oyler is the most experienced of the three sophomores having played in every match with five starts.

The Monarchs brought in a group of five freshman that will look to gain experience and compete for time. David Crowley was a center midfielder for Newton High School in Newton, NJ and played club for Newton United Premier. Dylan Ramage is from Wappingers Falls, NY where he was a two-time All-League selection and All-Section Honorable Mention. Aziz Atiyeh is from Whitehall, PA where he was a All-Conference soccer and volleyball star. Garrett Keister is from Harrisburg, PA where he earned All-Conference honors twice and led Central Dauphin to the state quarterfinals last year. Bryan Stefans is a native of Oak Ridge, NJ where he earned First Team All-Freedom Conference and Honorable Mention All-Morris County honors.

DEFENDERS
The Monarch defense has traditionally been very good under Coach Mark Bassett. This year should be no different with an experienced and deep group that includes four seniors. The anchor of the group is August Axtman who earned All-Region and All-MAC Freedom honors last year. The senior led the team with seven goals including a perfect six-for-six on penalty kicks. Classmates John Waring, Ryan Romeo, and Matthew Hesse are also looking to finish their career strong besides Axtman. Waring struggled with injuries a season ago playing in only eight matches. He is looking to return to his 2017 form when he played 18 of the 19 matches and scored his first career goal. Romeo started every match last year and scored two goals and had one assist. Hesse had a great start to the season a year ago before an injury cut his season short. He is looking to come back strong this year and help Axtman anchor the defense.

Junior Michael Scardelletti has seen action in 28 matches during his two years while making 20 starts. He will be looked upon to take a leadership role with the group as an upperclassman. The Monarchs also have a group of five sophomore who had great freshmen years and will have an increased role with more experience. Zach Ivanovs is a returning starter who saw action in 17 of 19 matches. Quentin Szeker-Cortes also saw a lot of action making 14 starts in 18 matches. He recorded five assists off set pieces as the primary taker of free kicks. Pat Holton is also back after making five starts in 17 appearances with one assist. Jacob Hopfenspirger and Andrew Pizarro are hoping to see more action this year after combining for five appearances as freshmen.

King's brought in a group of three freshmen who will look to compete for time in the already strong group. Jared Smith was an All-State defender for Schalmont High School in Schenectady, NY. Miles Wagner is from Macungie, PA and played for Allentown Central Catholic while Gavin McCloskey is from Pottstown, PA and a graduate of Boyertown Area.

GOALKEEPERS
The Monarchs lost All-Region keeper in Owen Geedey and will look for one of three keepers to fill his big shoes in 2019. Junior Pat Hughes is the most experienced of the three with 68 minutes of action in two years. Last year he made faced two total shots and made one save while not allowing a goal in just over 45 minutes of time in net. Junior Connor McKeown saw just under 18 minutes of action and faced two shots with one save and no goals allowed. The duo will be joined by sophomore Joey Lindsay in his first year on the squad. Lindsay is also a member of the Monarch men's basketball team but prior to that he was a Second Team All-Suburban 1 Conference keeper for the Knights of North Penn High School.

SCHEDULE
King's has a few tough opponents on the non-conference slate starting tomorrow with Scranton. The Monarchs will get a look at Arcadia University at the end of September prior to the Knights moving from the MAC Commonwealth to the MAC Freedom next season. The conference schedule begins on October 5 with a home match against nationally ranked Eastern at 4 p.m. in a rematch of last year's Championship. KC will also get conference newcomer and nationally ranked Stevens in McCarthy Stadium on October 19.